(CNN) - The website for the WinShape Foundation, a group started by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy that’s financed almost entirely by Chick-fil-A profits, doesn’t look like a battlefield in the culture war.

The site features warm and fuzzy snapshots of winding country roads and rustic cabins along with links to a cornucopia of social welfare programs the foundation funds - from foster homes to kids’ camps to college scholarships - that would seem to be the furthest thing from controversial.

The foundation's “simple but profound goal” is also hard to take issue with: “Help ‘shape winners.’ ”

But gay rights groups are incensed about the chain’s financial support for what they say are anti-gay groups. WinShape-backed groups deny that accusation, while WinShape stresses its activities are almost entirely aimed at youth and families, as opposed to conservative advocacy.

Yet WinShape finds itself in the center of a storm over gay rights and religious liberties as Americans take sides in the controversy over Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy’s recently reaffirmed opposition to same-sex marriage.

"We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit," Dan Cathy, Truett’s son, said in an interview last month. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

The comments sparked a tsunami of criticism from gay rights advocates and their allies, with a same-sex kiss day at Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide scheduled for Friday. (Supporters rallied around the chain Wednesday, with an event dubbed Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.)

But gay rights groups appear even more concerned about Chick-fil-A’s charitable giving, most of which is funneled through WinShape. The group received more than $8 million from Chick-fil-A in 2010, the most recent years for which tax records are available.

A fact sheet about Chick-fil-A recently issued by the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest gay rights group, aims its ire mostly at WinShape.

The fact sheet, titled “Chick-fil-A anti-gay: Company funnels millions to anti-equality groups,” says that the “popular fast food chain has donated millions to groups that demonize (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people on a daily basis.”

The document enumerates what it calls Chick-fil-A’s “shocking donations” to evangelical groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Focus on the Family.

Other gay rights groups have also zeroed in on WinShape’s donations.

A 2011 report from Equality Matters, an arm of the liberal group Media Matters Action Network, said the restaurant’s “charitable division has provided more than $1.1 million to organizations that deliver anti-LGBT messages and promote egregious practices like reparative therapy that seek to ‘free’ people of being gay.”

The WinShape-backed groups that gay rights advocates accuse of being anti-gay reject that label, insisting that they condemn homosexual acts, not gay people.

“Those Christian groups don’t see themselves as hateful organizations - it’s a completely different perspective,” said Rusty Leonard, a financial adviser who counsels Christians on charitable giving and who knows the Cathy family. “But as conservative Christians we believe that homosexual activity is sinful.”

Most WinShape-backed groups, such as Focus on the Family and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, are mostly apolitical and are mainstream within the evangelical world.

At the same time, the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center has classified some WinShape-backed organizations, such as the Family Research Council, as anti-gay hate groups.

WinShape spends the vast majority of its money on internal programs like its camps, which cost $5 million to run in 2010, and foster homes, which cost $3.2 million that year.

By comparison, the organization gave $1,000 to Family Research Council in 2010 and $1,000 to Exodus International, a group that for years promoted so-called conversion therapy for gays, though the group is now reassessing that stance.

“The WinShape Foundation and Chick-fil-A’s corporate giving is focused on supporting youth, family and educational programs,” said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s executive vice president for marketing, in a statement to CNN.com, responding to questions.

“WinShape provides camping programs for more than 13,000 girls and boys annually and 14 foster homes caring for more than 100 children,” the statement continued. "In addition, Chick-fil-A has awarded more than $30 million in Restaurant Team Member college scholarships to hourly employees.”

WinShape’s own programs have a serious Christian tint. Its summer camp for kids “challenges campers to sharpen their character, deepen their Christian faith and relationships,” according to its website.

The foundation’s college scholarships, mostly for current and former Chick-fil-A employees, are to Berry College, a Christian liberal arts school in Georgia. The scholarships are bent on equipping “college students to impact the world for Jesus Christ by following him and living out his unique calling in their lives,” according to WinShape.

For evangelical Christians, such programs make Chick-fil-A a model corporate citizen.

“On the conservative end of the Christian world, they are seen as being one of the most fabulous examples of Christianity lived out in appropriate ways,” Leonard said. “They support all kinds of wonderful things.”

But for now, the national focus is on outside groups that WinShape supports. The gay rights group GLAAD, for example, recently started a petition to get Dan Cathy to have dinner with a pair of gay parents and their children.

“If Cathy is going to spend millions trying to break apart loving families,” the petition says, “he should at least meet the people his money is hurting."

soundoff(2,697 Responses)

john

@ Bob funny that you post your little bible scriptures that you think support your agenda! It doesn't! This is from the old testament, IE we don't govern ourselves under the law anymore! If you weren't trying to spew hate yourself and actually knew what you were talking about you would know this. I like how you try and demean Christians for their beliefs yet we will continue to stand on our faith because guess what we never needed you to believe in the first place! HAAAA!! I know it makes you mad but of well you will get over it! I don't hate gay people at all I love them I just don't support their lifestyle. You obviously don't support my belief so am I to take it that you hate me? I don't hate you for not agreeing with me it is your right and I support your right and opinion but I will continue to serve GOD and Jesus Christ! See it's easy, it's called tolerance I may not agree with you but that doesn't stop my love for you as a person/human being! I also feel the gays have the right to have their kiss in in Chick Fil-a they also have the right to purchase something off the menu as I did or they will be loitering and should be escorted off the premises. So they may still be in fact supporting Chick Fil-a! lol

August 3, 2012 at 11:42 am |

Bob

John, way to utterly miss what I said in my post. First, note that I am quoting both NT and OT. Then, read the part about why some of the OT violence was ever in there. Seriously, read it again, more carefully this time:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Joi

August 3, 2012 at 12:01 pm |

Bob

John, way to utterly miss what I said in my post. First, note that I am quoting both NT and OT. Then, read the part about why some of the OT violence was ever in there. Seriously, read it again, more carefully this time:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

August 3, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

FoolsFoolsEverywhereFools

Matthew 23:1-39 and Revelation 3:9 says it all and that is who you follow.

August 3, 2012 at 12:26 pm |

Eric

To keep it short ALL sin leads to death. Murder, adultry, lust, alternative lifestyles and many more. Everyone has some form of sin in their lives. GOD loves all people he does not hate anyone. But just like your children there are consuquences for disobedience.

One another note why do people choose to have kids... They know they will suffer in their lives and die so what is the point of questing GOD on why he made us... when we choose to have children knowing the answers to the questions also pointed at GOD.

August 3, 2012 at 12:34 pm |

Bob

Eric, seriously, actually read what I quoted and explained, and then explain how your obviously nasty, vindictive god of your bible can be considered "loving" in the face of such horrors and murder that he apparently explicitly demands or causes.

August 3, 2012 at 12:52 pm |

Billy

Bob,

Simply put: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, so that whomever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

You can take scripture out of context all you want, but THIS fact still remains. It is written. God bless!

August 3, 2012 at 1:11 pm |

JJ

The bible is a lie, so much has been made of a book written by a bunch of village hashheads.

August 3, 2012 at 5:08 pm |

equalizer

I really dont understand why these E.Coli lovers are trying to interpret the Bible....They are the daughters and sons of Sata*n...how in the world will they understand the Holy things of God? Funny....

August 3, 2012 at 10:01 pm |

Andrei

Bob you should read Bible in context and not rip out one or 2 verse and make them fit our agenda

August 4, 2012 at 8:32 am |

Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things

Prayer changes things

August 3, 2012 at 11:38 am |

Jesus

Prayer does not; you are such a LIAR. You have NO proof it changes anything! A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work and their children died. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested.

An article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.

The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs!

August 3, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

Prayer is good for your neighbors since it keeps you quiet.

Atheism is wonderful for children and all kinds of little critters!

August 3, 2012 at 12:35 pm |

California

GAY VANDALS HAVE HIT THE CHIKC-FIL-A IN TORRANCE CALIFORNIA.

THEIR PROTESTS TURN TO HATE JUST AS EVERYONE KNOW IT WOULD.

August 3, 2012 at 11:34 am |

heavenSnot

"Gay Vandals" that will be the name of my next metal band (in the third age).

This is my experience.... Thank you.

August 3, 2012 at 12:07 pm |

trea

HOW do you know it was gay vandals. maybe it was just your average morons destroying something because they had someone else to blame it on

August 3, 2012 at 11:51 pm |

PrimeNumber

The yellow journalists of the media have stepped on their own d*cks trying to create controversy and sell news. How embarassing to discover that Chick-fil-A has been doing charitable giving. Damage control: cast this charitable giving in the worst light possible. In some Chick-Fil-A locations, store employees have offered water – to protesters!

Well said sir. Nice name, btw. I've read countless articles and the comments that follow, and have yet to stumble across a worthy cause for outrage at CFA's stance or conduct as a company. At the end of the day, in this country you have the right to believe what you wish and practice those beliefs as you wish. If you do not like Mr. Cathy's position then do not spend your money at CFA or show support for WinShape. One thing you can be certain of is that as long as the media and gay rights groups demonize religion then these protests will do little to cripple the franchise or the pipeline of funds that support WinShape and other charities.

August 3, 2012 at 8:20 pm |

Really?

Y'all start to crack me up. Trying to quote the bible to show Christianity as bad, evil, and requires violence by using various scripture out of context. LOL you are just proving your ingnorance. Good job!!!!!

August 3, 2012 at 11:17 am |

William Demuth

So I guess the good book was never used to justify slavery, the holocaust, war, murder, or torture?

It's not so much what the filthy rag says, but the inbred chicken sh1t white bread rednecks who use it as a club to beat down those they dislike.

Matthew. Anything from the gospels is really limp stuff to argue any point from. lol.
And Revelation was written by someone on some really bad weed. I'm surprised. usually when someone wants to pick a fight, they will run to Paul the self-proclaimed "apostle" politician since his words are most easily used to wage wars, etc.

August 3, 2012 at 12:32 pm |

equalizer

William, when E.Coli lover like you try interpret the Bible, trouble starts. How can Satan's son (you) interpret the Bible correctly? crazy just crazy....hehehe..

August 3, 2012 at 10:08 pm |

BigTnTDaddy

If you read ANY of the responses from ANY publication, the only hateful statements are coming from the GLAD folk. Chick Fil A said nothing anti gay, only Pro biblical. There is a big difference between the two sentiments. One can be pro one thing and not necessarily anti the other. I for one am also pro biblical definition of marriage. But I am also not anti gay marriage. I do have gay friends, and will cheerfully celebrate their marriage and wish them a long happy union. But just because I don't throw my shekels at every gay organization doesn't make me anti gay. Call me hypocrite. There are way more important things to stress about such as gub'mit intrusion and world annihilation than gay/anti-gay.

You said, "Chick Fil A said nothing anti gay, only Pro biblical."
They donate money to organizations that aim to codify discrimination against gays. They do so based on their ancient fairy tale. They aim to force their delusions on the sane part of society. That makes them evil. There really are no two ways about it. Those that try to force their bullshit religion on the rest of society are bigots. Better get used to it.

August 3, 2012 at 11:42 am |

Bill Deacon

Lin – just because you are against their cause does not make them evil. I thought you had better sense than that.

" One can be pro one thing and not necessarily anti the other. I for one am also pro biblical definition of marriage. But I am also not anti gay marriage. I do have gay friends, and will cheerfully celebrate their marriage and wish them a long happy union. "

So... I'm curious.... When it comes time to actually *vote* on a law that would allow gays to actually marry, would you vote *yes* or *no.*....?

And, do you ever contribute 'shekels' to any of the religious groups like Chik-fil-A has, and like many others in this society, that attempt to *ban* gay marriage ?

You said, "Lin – just because you are against their cause does not make them evil. I thought you had better sense than that."
Forcing your religious beliefs on anyone else is evil.

August 3, 2012 at 1:57 pm |

THREEDS

Everyone has a choice. If you choose to be gay that is between you and God. Why do gay people get so angry when people dont include them in certain things or give to their causes. You are singling yourselves out. I am a christian who love the gay people that I know but hate the sin just like I hate my own sins. It always has to be where gays want to be put on a pedestal. People can give to whatever cause, organization that they want. What's wrong with the owner of chick a fila giving to people that are gay who want counseling. It's their money!!! They can do what they want with it. Do you get angry at the gay people that decide they want counseling, do you boycott them, put them on blast. Chill sometimes. Everything does not warrant a protest or sit in.

August 3, 2012 at 11:09 am |

William Demuth

If you choose to be gay that is between you and God????

So do you mean God will be gay with you if you want? Does he prefer to pitch or catch?

I always suspected JC was a closet queen, but I never heard a Christian admit that.

Now what about the whole virgin bitht thing?

August 3, 2012 at 11:16 am |

Aly

Very well stated! It seems to me that those who scream tolerance for gays, acceptance for gays, etc.. are the MOST intolerant of and unaccepting of other's core beliefs and values. Such hypocrits! They use bullying tactics to promote their agenda.
I agree that lifestyle choice is between an individual and their Maker. I believe that HE alone is God, and His Word is true. He gives us freedom to choose Whom we believe and Whom we serve. Whether we believe or not, doesn't change Who He is. We can choose to believe in gravity, or not, but if we jump off a building, we will fall down!

August 3, 2012 at 11:59 am |

Bill Deacon

I couldn't care less who you sleep with. Currently, 6 states have voted to allow same seex marriage and 32 have voted it down. That is the law of the land until and unless the Supreme court weighs in. But what turns me away from support of the LGBT cause is the incessant labeling of "hate" aimed at those who oppose them, all the while spewing their own derision on people of good will who simply disagree. It goes so far as to categorize well intentioned organizations as "hate groups" and co-opt leftist politicians to threaten violations of the constiitution. Your case is not ironclad, as you would like to believe and your tactics are deplorable. I believe these sentiments fueled the largest sales day in Chick-fil-A's history at least as much as actual opposition to the gay agenda. But you folks go on, keep flaunting your behavior, keep deriding typical Americans as "overweight Christian retards", keep voting for politicians who want to "reshape" America. Just don't be surprised that people turn away from you more and more as time goes by.

August 3, 2012 at 10:58 am |

Huebert

Are you aware that support for LGBT causes has steadily grown over time, And that said support is growing fastest among the younger generation (20-30)?

August 3, 2012 at 11:03 am |

J.W

In a way this is true. But I am sure it is difficult to accept when people want to take away one of your rights.

August 3, 2012 at 11:08 am |

Bob

Bill, in turn, it is your religion that is a prime source of hate, especially when your nasty instruction manual AKA the bible has horrid instructions to do hate and violence like these, and when your sky fairy is apparently such a racist, bigoted, vindictive jerk according to both OT and NT:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

August 3, 2012 at 11:10 am |

Peter

All you people that support the gay sin are allowing your friends to suffer for eternity for a few years of lust on earth. You have no clue what you are fighting for because you don't know scriptures.

As soon as christians stop discriminating and stop spreading their hate, the labeling will stop. You shouldn't expect the reasonable part of society to just roll over and give in to the bigotry.

You said, "But what turns me away from support of the LGBT cause is the incessant labeling of "hate" aimed at those who oppose them, all the while spewing their own derision on people of good will who simply disagree."
The difference is that very few are trying to prevent the christians from living their lives as they see fit. If these "loving" christians would stop trying to force their fairy tale on the rest of us, we wouldn't be having this problem.

You, and every other christian, is free to not enter into a same sex marriage if you feel that is not your thing. Trying to prevent others from entering into one, based on nothing but your fairy tale, is textbook bigotry.

Picking and choosing what parts of your fairy tale to use is a choice all christians make. There are plenty of denominations that interpret your fairy tale in such a way that doesn't discriminate. Those that pick the parts that vilify gays and lesbians must do so because they don't like them, as they are free to pick a different denomination.

You said, "It goes so far as to categorize well intentioned organizations as "hate groups" and co-opt leftist politicians to threaten violations of the constiitution."
Bullshit. Organizations that aim to discriminate are not "well intentioned".

You said, "Your case is not ironclad, as you would like to believe and your tactics are deplorable."
Freedom of religion applies equally to everyone. Your bullshit story may be fine for you, but it doesn't apply to anyone else. You are free to be as ignorant as you want. You are not free to expect anyone else to be equally ignorant. Secular law applies to everyone and should be based on rational arguments. Your religion, and that of everyone else, isn't rational and therefor has to stay out of secular law.

You said, "I believe these sentiments fueled the largest sales day in Chick-fil-A's history at least as much as actual opposition to the gay agenda."
It goes to show that there is an abundance of hate and ignorance. And, by the way, there is only one item on the "gay agenda", and that is "work towards equality".

You said, "But you folks go on, keep flaunting your behavior, keep deriding typical Americans as "overweight Christian retards", keep voting for politicians who want to "reshape" America. Just don't be surprised that people turn away from you more and more as time goes by."
Yet you folks keep trying to force your delusions down the throat of the sane part of society. You keep spouting your hate and bigotry. You keep discriminating. You keep trying to keep the US in the 19th century.

Education and the free flow of information will eventually spell the end of the reign of religion.

August 3, 2012 at 11:20 am |

Bill Deacon

Lin – Do you mean the free flow of information like the now ex CFO of Venta corporation spewed onto the counter person at the Chick-fil-A yesterday?

August 3, 2012 at 11:48 am |

Topher

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the se.xually immoral, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor men who practice hom.os.exuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." I Corinthians 6:9-10

But did you know that you will be sent to Hell even if you've only told one lie? Did you know that Jesus said looking with lust is adultery of the heart and hating someone is the same as murder? That's how high God's standard is ... He even sees your thought-life.

So yes, they will be in big trouble come judgment day, but we ALL are going to be in big trouble without a Savior.

August 3, 2012 at 11:58 am |

Aly

In response to J.W.'s question to Peter...
It says it in the New Testament Book of Romans chapter 1 verses 18-32.

August 3, 2012 at 12:08 pm |

J.W

It doesn't say they will go to hell just for being gay.

August 3, 2012 at 12:26 pm |

Billy

J.W.

Seriously?

There's a few hundred pages of reading you can do to realize that the Bible doesn't have to follow everything it says is sin with"and they will go to Hell". Please stop being juvenile.

You said, "Lin – Do you mean the free flow of information like the now ex CFO of Venta corporation spewed onto the counter person at the Chick-fil-A yesterday?"
I don't know what the ex CFO of Venta said, but if you support the bigoted speech from the CEO of Chick-fil-A, you will have to accept that too.

But, no. I was talking about the speed an ease at which information is disseminated through the internet and other media. Eventually, the religious won't be able to shield their offspring from it. With access to a varied array of information will come abandonment of silly superstitions.

August 3, 2012 at 2:02 pm |

equalizer

Satan is also fond of quoting the Bible just like some of the E.Coli lovers are doing....How can you understand Holy things of God when YOU are the son or daughter of SATAN? just sayin....hahahahaha...

August 3, 2012 at 10:15 pm |

Ting

I wonder if God is going to give the U.S. a pass for it's sinful ways now that there have been record sales at Christ fil a.

August 3, 2012 at 10:55 am |

William Demuth

Gold medal count is up, but then again so is mass murder.

Maybe Jeebus is confused?

Perhaps an upgrade of his prayer infrastructure? You know, like springing for a cable modem?

This 9600 baud line Jeebus is sporting on the prayer hotline has got to go!

August 3, 2012 at 11:18 am |

Maria

im so sick of people protesting whatever they want. If they don't like who they donate money to, instead of complaining about it, go start a company, make millions and donate it to whoever you want to. I had tolerance for Gays before but this just brings it to a whole level. If they will not be tolerant of views against Gay marriage, I won't be tolerant of Gay marriages.

August 3, 2012 at 10:50 am |

Alex

"If they won't be tolerant of views against gay marriage"
Why should I be tolerant of a view that i don't deserve a right. I'm jewish, should I be tolerant of a neo-nazi saying I'm sub-human?

And you think it's that easy to make millions? You think that if I want to create a machine for promoting my ideology, I should go sell some product completely unrelated to it, then secretively donate toward my political goal? That's how you think America should run?

August 3, 2012 at 10:54 am |

Huebert

Blah Blah Blah, gays should accept repression and unequal treatment.

That about sums up your argument.

August 3, 2012 at 10:56 am |

Maria

so you think the mission of chick fil A was to start a company make millions so they can donate to anti gay charities? I hardly think those were his intentions. But even if they were, kudos to him for being smart enough to make millions to do what he likes. And he supports evengelical organizations who just happen to have a view on anti gay marriages. He can support whatever he likes thats the beauty of america. You support whatever gay rights you'd like and he can support whatever he likes.

August 3, 2012 at 11:01 am |

Bill Deacon

Huebert, you are typically dismissive of someone trying to give you honest feedback regarding how over the top your side of the topic has become. It is frankly repulsive.

I agree. Their plan is backfiring as it's completely turned me against them. I'm sick of them to the point I can't even find the words to say how fed up I am. I'm done with them...

August 3, 2012 at 11:04 am |

Maria

Oh I'm sorry I didn't know I typed those words out. I thought I was saying people should be able to have whatever view they want. If they want to donate to charities that have a certain faith they had the right to do so. I didn't realize that meant that Gays and Lesbians should be beaten and bullied. I didn't know those organizations went around with bats beating the crap out of Lesbians and Gays. I thought they were helping children and families.

How is charities who help families beating lesbians and gays. The people that bully have nothing to do with organizations who have a view on a matter. Unless they are walking around beating the crap out of gays, what you said doesn't make sense.

August 3, 2012 at 11:06 am |

Ting

Really?

"You know I used to like you gay people before you wanted equal rights".

Do you think people had those same thoughts before the civil rights movement? "I used to like blacks before they wanted equal rights".

August 3, 2012 at 11:10 am |

J.W

They aren't beating them, but if they are speaking out against gay marriage then they are furthering the idea that gays should not be tolerated in the same way straights are.

August 3, 2012 at 11:11 am |

Huebert

Maria

"If they will not be tolerant of views against Gay marriage, I won't be tolerant of Gay marriages."

You are saying that you will fight for unequal treatment because h.omose.xuals are unwilling to accept unequal treatment. Unless you have a different interpretation of your own words.

August 3, 2012 at 11:16 am |

Rufus T. Firefly

Maria, you are indeed mistaken if you think that Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council are innocent and nonpolitical groups that just want to help children and families. Surely you know better. They may not use baseball bats as you describe in your absurd exaggeration, but these are not nice people and they do literally cause harm to actual living people.

August 3, 2012 at 11:18 am |

The Decline

@ Hubert Nice generalization. Typical liberal, just skew the statement and insult. Repression? Give me a break. As a single man, I have the same lifestyle as a gay person and what your saying is that my life is less than that of someone who is married? Are gay ppl not allowed at public parks? Are they not allowed to take out a loan? Own a home? Adopt a child? The gay community NEEDS the gov to recognize their love?? Ridiculous. Also, if "equal" was the goal then why fight for marriage? Why not try to remove the legal benefits of marriage so the playing field is level, or even try and strengthen common laws?? The answer, thats not what the gay community wants. They just want to stick it in the craw of religious ppl so they dont want a solution from what I can see.

Oh I'm sorry I didn't know I typed those words out. I thought I was saying people should be able to have whatever view they want. If they want to donate to charities that have a certain faith they had the right to do so. I didn't realize that meant that Gays and Lesbians should be beaten and bullied.

Let's not be facetious. You and I both know you didn't say it directly. I was addressing your attitude. It is this kind of attitude that can lead some people to bullying and beating. We do not live in a vacuum. The words we say have meaning and that meaning carries.

I didn't know those organizations went around with bats beating the crap out of Lesbians and Gays. I thought they were helping children and families.

When the support goes to organizations that teach that being gay is not normal, that it is sin, that it is choice and can be overcome, it might as well be the person who donated that money wielding the bat. Not everyone who believes being gay is a sin is going to bully or hurt someone, but some will. Some HAVE.

How is charities who help families beating lesbians and gays. The people that bully have nothing to do with organizations who have a view on a matter. Unless they are walking around beating the crap out of gays, what you said doesn't make sense.

How do you know that the people who bully gay kids aren't related to those organizations? In every case I know of personally of a gay kid/teen being bullied, the bully was a member of a church or other organization that taught that being gay was bad.

As I said words have meaning. Attitudes carry. In fact, attitudes grow. One person looks the other way, another person takes that as consent and another takes that consent as instruction...and on it goes.

Hate breeds out of indifference and fear.

And just a thought...no one wants to be merely tolerated. Tolerance is only a starting point.

August 3, 2012 at 11:29 am |

Huebert

@Decline

You are being obtuse. You as a single man are allowed to get married, if you so desire, and your marriage is recognized throughout the country. A gay man does not enjoy this privilege this is the unequal treatment that i am speaking of. As to your proposition to simply remove the marriage benefits for everyone, that would work, but it would never be passed into law. Why not simply extend marriage benefits to this minority group?

You said, "Repression? Give me a break. As a single man, I have the same lifestyle as a gay person and what your saying is that my life is less than that of someone who is married?"
Assuming you are heterosexual (I know, I know, it's a big and unsupported assumption) you are free to marry the person that you love. The government will grant you and you spouse all the rights and privileges associated with it. Gays don't have that choice, except in a few states and in those cases will only get State benefits.

You said, "Also, if "equal" was the goal then why fight for marriage? Why not try to remove the legal benefits of marriage so the playing field is level, or even try and strengthen common laws??"
How does that make any sense? Simply making the current laws inclusive is the far easier way.

You said, "The answer, thats not what the gay community wants."
Gays and reasonable people simply want equality. Nothing more, nothing less. Religious bigots can keep their religious marriages and keep excluding who they want, but secular marriage has to be open to all consenting adult couples.

August 3, 2012 at 11:34 am |

YeahRight

"I thought they were helping children and families. "

Heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of SocialWorkers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured."

Social science has shown that the concerns often raised about children of lesbian and gay parents—concerns that are generally grounded in prejudice against and stereotypes about gay people—are unfounded. Overall, the research indicates that the children of lesbian and gay parents do not differ from the children of heterosexual parents in their development, adjustment, or overall well-being.

August 3, 2012 at 11:49 am |

pervert alert

There is nothing natural about being a qu eer. Qu eers the people who gave AIDS to the world.

August 3, 2012 at 11:51 am |

.

"There is nothing natural about being a qu eer. Qu eers the people who gave AIDS to the world."

Until recently, the origins of the HIV-2 virus had remained relatively unexplored. HIV-2 is thought to come from the SIV in Sooty Mangabeys rather than chimpanzees, but the crossover to humans is believed to have happened in a similar way (i.e. through the butchering and consumption of monkey meat). It is far rarer, significantly less infectious and progresses more slowly to AIDS than HIV-1. As a result, it infects far fewer people, and is mainly confined to a few countries in West Africa.

In May 2003, a group of Belgian researchers published a report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. By analysing samples of the two different subtypes of HIV-2 (A and B) taken from infected individuals and SIV samples taken from sooty mangabeys, Dr Vandamme concluded that subtype A had passed into humans around 1940 and subtype B in 1945 (plus or minus 16 years or so). Her team of researchers also discovered that the virus had originated in Guinea-Bissau and that its spread was most likely precipitated by the independence war that took place in the country between 1963 and 1974 (Guinea-Bissau is a former Portuguese colony). Her theory was backed up by the fact that the first European cases of HIV-2 were discovered among Portuguese veterans of the war, many of whom had received blood transfusions or unsterile injections following injury, or had possibly had relationships with local women.

Given the evidence we have already looked at, it seems highly likely that Africa was indeed the continent where the transfer of HIV to humans first occurred (monkeys from Asia and South America have never been found to have SIVs that could cause HIV in humans). In May 2006, the same group of researchers who first identified the Pan troglodytes troglodytes strain of SIVcpz, announced that they had narrowed down the location of this particular strain to wild chimpanzees found in the forests of Southern Cameroon . By analysing 599 samples of chimp droppings (P. T. troglodytes are a highly endangered and thus protected species that cannot be killed or captured for testing), the researchers were able to obtain 34 specimens that reacted to a standard HIV DNA test, 12 of which gave results that were virtually indistinguishable from the reactions created by human HIV. The researchers therefore concluded that the chimpanzees found in this area were highly likely the origin of both the pandemic Group M of HIV-1 and of the far rarer Group N. The exact origins of Group O however remain unknown.

HIV Group N principally affects people living in South-central Cameroon, so it is not difficult to see how this outbreak started. Group M, the group that has caused the worldwide pandemic, was however first identified in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Repub lic of Con go. It is not entirely clear how it transferred from Cameroon to Kinshasa, but the most likely explanation is that an infected individual travelled south down the San gha river that runs through Southern Cam eroon to the River Con go and then on to Kin shasa, where the Group M epidemic probably began.

Just as we do not know exactly who spread the virus from Cam eroon to Kin shasa, how the virus spread from Africa to America is also not entirely clear. However, recent evidence suggests that the virus may have arrived via the Cari bbean island of H aiti.

August 3, 2012 at 12:04 pm |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

pervert alert

Get some education, dude. I not just about gays, just get educated on anything. It's obvious that any kind would help you.

August 3, 2012 at 12:41 pm |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

Get some education, dude. Not just about gays, just get educated on anything. It's obvious that any kind would help you.

August 3, 2012 at 12:43 pm |

sam

Christianity is insanity. All the Abrahamic religions (Christian, Jewish, Muslim) are insanity. History will prove this out. They are all about control and ego – have caused so much sadness in the world.

We do live and let live. You want to be Christian? We aren't stopping you. In fact, most of us would stand beside you to protect that right. Don't like homosexuality? That's your right. Want to say so? Go ahead. I would still stand beside you to protect that right.

However, donate money to support denying me what this country has already determined is a basic civil right? Campaign for it? Don't be surprised when I stand up to demand equality.

August 3, 2012 at 11:09 am |

Bill Deacon

myweight – That is what makes America so great. The free exchange of ideas. What many people are trying to say though is that it does not advance your cause to insult, and vilify your opponent.

In my opinion, the kiss day is a bad move. On August 1st, scores of people lined up peacefully, responsibly, and in an orderly manner to support their side of the issue. Today, people are going to start kissing in the restraunt in a form of protest with the intent to make a provocative statement that makes the other side uncomfortable. It makes them look immature, inconsiderate, and childish whose sole purpose is not to take a stand for their side of the issue, but only to make the other side upset. That may not be the case, but it will be the perception thus giving the other side more ammunition and even more reason to not take the "kissers" stance on the issue seriously. All this combined with record breaking sales and tremendous support on Wednesday makes it pretty clear that those who stand for the traditional view of marriage won this round.... way to go.

No. No one should "sit and take it". But it looks like in this particular event that they just shot themselves in the foot. There are plenty of other ways to stand up against what they are opposed to that are more effective and also insure that they are taken seriously.

August 3, 2012 at 10:46 am |

Topher

What hate? All Cathy said was he supported traditional marriage. He didn't say he refuses to serve them.

August 3, 2012 at 10:46 am |

your freedom stops where mine starts

Chick-fil-A sucks!!! One doesn't choose to be gay, anymore than one can choose the color of their eyes. Grow up America and stop hating!

August 3, 2012 at 10:39 am |

Stephen

When someone disagrees with your way of thinking, they suck?

August 3, 2012 at 10:44 am |

Topher

What does choice have to do with it?

August 3, 2012 at 10:48 am |

Robert

Isn’t it an individual’s right to decided where they choose to donate money? Why would anyone give to a cause or charity that doesn’t share their beliefs or values? Just as it is ones choice to have their own opinion and express that opinion it is also their choose on how to spend their money.

August 3, 2012 at 10:35 am |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

Absolutely. But it is my responsibility to expose and prove who the fools are for donating to what and why. A big job, but I am up to the task.

August 3, 2012 at 10:43 am |

Alex

Maybe because they didn't know their money was going to hate groups, but thought they were buying a nice, apolitical chicken sandwich?

August 3, 2012 at 10:49 am |

Jonathan

Apparently, people do care, judging by the turn out on wednesday.

August 3, 2012 at 2:16 pm |

Wantmyfreedom

Starbucks donates to Planned Parenthood. This is an organization that I do not support because I am prolife. However, I feel that since we are in America Starbucks and Chick fil a can donate wherever they choose. If you don't like where they spend their money then don't eat there. That is your right as an American. Tolerance does not mean people agree, it means allowing other people to have their own opinions.

August 3, 2012 at 10:33 am |

Alex

Frankly I don't like the idea of either of them using their product to promote an ideology. How does it effect their chicken whether I marry another dude? How does it effect their coffee if my girlfriend doesn't have access to quality birth control?

Also I hate Starbucks for other reasons. Planned Parenthood is ok in my bood

August 3, 2012 at 10:39 am |

Lux

You want freedom yet you want to prevent women's access to contraception?

August 3, 2012 at 10:46 am |

Bill Deacon

Lux, no one wants to prevent women's access to contraception. Don't go off on tangents trying to bolster a shoddy case.

August 3, 2012 at 11:45 am |

Aly

Amen!
Why is this so hard for people to understand?

August 3, 2012 at 1:28 pm |

Randy

One way to decide of the Chicago mayor is a loon is to flip the sitsuation. Let's say that he stated that any business that supported gay marriage could not do business with the city. Can you imagine the outcry? I am for the traditional definition of marriage, but in that case, I would state that a business cannot be discriminated based on a personal preference like that. I cannot believe the double standard that abounds in the media today. How can the loony mayor get away with that. If the sitsuation were flopped, the ACLU and would be quick to file a suit. What a joke.

August 3, 2012 at 10:32 am |

Alex

The ACLU is filing a lawsuit. They said they stand by CFA even if they don't support the company's message

August 3, 2012 at 10:57 am |

TDogg

Marriage = Man + Woman

Not men plugging each others crap hole

Ignorant, uneducatied heathens.

August 3, 2012 at 10:25 am |

Huebert

So your definition of marriage is solely based on se.x?

August 3, 2012 at 10:29 am |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

Lol. I think most educated Americans can properly deduce from your little vent the level of YOUR education.

If you are, do you and your spouse have sex?
Is that the entirety of your marriage?
How often?
Do you love your spouse? Talk to him/her? Have family dinners? Watch TV together? Visit friends/family together?

Marriage is not about sex, it just happens to include sex.

August 3, 2012 at 11:15 am |

Bob

Topher, again, try responding to what I actually wrote. Seriously, read it again, more carefully this time:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

August 3, 2012 at 12:07 pm |

Billy

Bob,

Your use of Deut is interestingly flawed. Moses was decrying rules for his people at that time. The time during which the OT was based. Jesus fulfilled the Word of God by dying for our sins, as was written in the NT. Jesus statements regarding the OT still being valid make sense when you look at the 10 commandments and what God decried during that time. I mean, if the NT was to completely nullify the OT, then are you saying we should agree with murder, theft and adultry?

Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of his arrival and his death and resurrection. He died so that we may not have to live under the extremes of the OT ways through the ability to have absolution in his resurrection.

To view only a few verses and tout it as full proof of your agenda shows ignorance and hate in so many forms that go beyond the debate for which the OP originally wrote the article above.

God Bless.

August 3, 2012 at 1:30 pm |

heavenSnot

Billy Bob and Bob Billy,

Deuteronomy isn't even good as a laxative anymore.

August 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm |

Ivey

Chick-fil-A shines yet again. Good works is what being a Christian is all about.

You go Chick-fil-A!, You rock! You shine!

August 3, 2012 at 10:11 am |

Bob

Actually, according to the bible, there is a lot of horror and violence required of you too, if you want to be a true Christian. Fine stuff like this, in OT and NT, so better get your knives out and get them bloody or nasty Christian god will burn and torture you forever:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

August 3, 2012 at 10:38 am |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

Lol. Being a lemming is what being a Christian is all about.

August 3, 2012 at 10:40 am |

Topher

Bob

You don't know your Bible and are obviously copying and pasting from some anti-Christian website. We don't sacrifice any more because of the new covenant. The sacrificial work has already been done by Christ on the cross.

August 3, 2012 at 10:53 am |

Bob

Topher, try again, and this time, actually read what I wrote in its entirety. Especially, think about why that sacrifice stuff from your nasty sky fairy was ever in there, and note that I am quoting evil instructions from your sky fairy from both OT and NT:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

The whole premise of Christianity that the death of the son of a "god" would have been any kind of "sacrifice" and was required to deal with "sin" is utter nonsense. This is a supposed omnipotent being that we are discussing. Christians, think this through a bit: how come your 'omnipotent' creature couldn't do all that supposed saving without the loony son sacrifice bit? And for that matter, how was it a sacrifice at all, when an omnipotent being could just pop up a replacement son any time it wants with less than a snap of its fingers? Pretty feeble god it is that you've made for yourself there. Give that some thought and maybe it will help you leave your delusions behind. You will remain a laughingstock otherwise, and the more you dwell in your silly delusion and ancient myths, instead of keeping up with advances in medicine and technology, the more America slips downward relative to the rest of the world in science and other fields.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

August 3, 2012 at 11:06 am |

Topher

Bob

"The whole premise of Christianity that the death of the son of a "god" would have been any kind of "sacrifice" and was required to deal with "sin" is utter nonsense."

First, I think you might not understand what "son" means. Jesus was not God's offspring. He was God Himself, one part of the Trinity. I understand this is a hard concept to understand. There is one God, three persons.

"This is a supposed omnipotent being that we are discussing. Christians, think this through a bit: how come your 'omnipotent' creature couldn't do all that supposed saving without the loony son sacrifice bit?"

Well, we know from the Bible that there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. That's why there was animal sacrifices in the OT. Jesus, being fully man (and thus one of us and so can represent us) and fully God (thus perfect and makes Him the perfect sacrifice) was able to pay for all of our sins on the cross. He is the sacrifice ... the work has already been done. That's why we no longer sacrifice.

"And for that matter, how was it a sacrifice at all, when an omnipotent being could just pop up a replacement son any time it wants with less than a snap of its fingers?"

No. Christ was never created by God. He was God Himself and eternally existed with the Father and Holy Spirit.

"Pretty feeble god it is that you've made for yourself there. Give that some thought and maybe it will help you leave your delusions behind."

There's nothing feeble here at all. How can a being with the just ability to judge your soul and merit out punishment and reward be feeble? How can the Creator of the universe with all its amazing complexity be feeble? How can a God with so much love for you that He came to us to die as a ransom for our souls be feeble?

August 3, 2012 at 11:27 am |

hmmmm

"First, I think you might not understand what "son" means. Jesus was not God's offspring. He was God Himself, one part of the Trinity. I understand this is a hard concept to understand. There is one God, three persons."

So your god was so dumb that it had to come down to kill itself because it screwed up on it's original creation. LOL!

August 3, 2012 at 11:30 am |

Topher

Nope. The creation was perfect. Man using his free will chose to sin. That caused the fall. You can't blame God for that. And because we have ALL sinned and cannot earn our way in Heaven, God came and died for us so that we COULD go to Heaven. What an incredible act of love!

August 3, 2012 at 11:38 am |

Get help while there is still time

Topher,
That you think an ancient grudge-holding god, actually required his own son to be killed, before he could say, "I forgive you", and then say the grudge holding is love, is the most pathetic contortion, andd intellectual "dancing" I have ever seen. Give your money to those fools, if you like. One of you is born everyday.

BTW, thanks for proving your god is not eternal. He changed, after the scrifice. Eternal beings cannot change. Idiot.

August 3, 2012 at 11:58 am |

Topher

How did He change?

And why do you feel the need to call names like a child?

August 3, 2012 at 12:01 pm |

Bob

Topher, John, way to utterly miss what I said in my post. First, note that I am quoting both NT and OT. Seriously, read it again, more carefully:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

August 3, 2012 at 12:08 pm |

Topher

I've read it several times. What is your point? You misunderstand the Bible.

August 3, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

save the world and slap some sense into a christard today

Topher
I've read it several times. What is your point? You misunderstand the Bible.

No – You twist every sentence of that vile book to suite your needs at any given moment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this pattern of deception. Although I do think many Chistards are more tarded than others and just believe what the last Christard told them. This is what I call extreme Christardedness.

August 3, 2012 at 12:49 pm |

Bob

Topher, again, since you are so hard of thinking:

"
And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.
"

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.